Texas beach hotel suggestions

[Swiss Carrera]

Hello everyone, well yet again we are planning to head stateside for a road trip,this time concentrating on Texas. After a few weeks on the road we plan to have a week at the beach before we fly back to Europe from DFW.
We had considered Corpus Christi, specifically Padre Island,but I thought I would check in to the wealth of knowledge on here again and see what you gents and ladies suggested.
We a looking for a good quality hotel, that's right on the beach (walking distance?) with a clean beautiful beach.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions, still love the forum.

[KFC911]

Before someone from Texas chimes in .... what time of year will you visit again?

Spring Break ?

Welcome back...

[Swiss Carrera]

No, not spring break time.!
Will be October.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Swiss Carrera

No, not spring break time.!
Will be October.

That would be a perfect time .... now wait for Texas to wake up

[unclebilly]

Galveston or Corpus Christi.

October is still in hurricane season.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Galveston or Corpus Christi.

October is still in hurricane season.

"Clean, beautiful beach" rules out Galveston. I'm from Florida. I've never seen a good beach here, but then I've never been to Corpus or Padre. I hear they are much better. I sure hope so.

I think his best bet is Padre.

[red-beard]

As soon as you get about 50-60 miles south of Galveston, the water clears up. South Padre Island is the best beach area in Texas.

October will be an Ideal time. It is after the kids go back to school and the water is still warm. Remember, Texas is a BIG state! Dallas to South Padre is about 900 km and takes about 8 hours of driving.

Remember to stop at a Bucee's!

[Tobra]

Wife and I went to Galveston for the weekend when our AC went out.

Cheap motel across the street from beach. We put all our stuff in trash bags so we did not take any cucarachas home

[stevej37]

I've stayed beachfront at Galveston and Corpus Christi about 10 years back.

Neither place was nearly as nice as the gulf coast of Florida.

[unclebilly]

I can’t seem to uploads the photos of the Galveston beach from August. It was CLEAN, warm and safe.

We swam about 10 miles south of the town of Galveston but on Galveston Island. It was no worse that the Beach at Santa Monica or the Beach at Key West…

[masraum]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

I can’t seem to uploads the photos of the Galveston beach from August. It was CLEAN, warm and safe.

We swam about 10 miles south of the town of Galveston but on Galveston Island. It was no worse that the Beach at Santa Monica or the Beach at Key West…

Sure, clean, warm, and safe. Just ugly. I'm probably just spoiled having grown up in Florida. I'm used to the beaches in the Clearwater/St Petersburg area, as well as Pensacola, and even the Atlantic coast. IMO, the Galveston area is full of sad, ugly little beaches compared to any/every beach I've ever been to in FL.

[KFC911]

I love the Atlantic beaches in Oct after all "the crazies" have left for the season.... from the Outer Banks down to Florida.

I used to be one of them too .

Texas .... famous for it's beaches, mountain ranges, and vegans

[David]

Why the beach in Texas? I did meet some Californians at Crystal Beach in Texas a few years ago but they were California Red Necks who really wanted to visit a Texas beach. Otherwise, we only go because we're close.

I'd vote for Texas Hill Country for a visit. Or Big Bend area.

If you do really want to go to a beach, Padre is best but also really far from anything.

[Swiss Carrera]

Thanks everyone who has replied so far.
Full trip plans are thus:
Fly into DFW
Day or two in DFW.
Tulsa OK for a few days (visited before on our Route 66 trip, really liked the place so want to see more of it)
Overnight in Tucumcari NM
Overnight in Roswell NM, next day White Sand NP
Few nights in El Paso (used to visit here when I was a kid when we lived for a while in Chihuahua MX (Father worked for FoMoCo at the time)
Few nights in Marfa TX (staying at Paisano Hotel)
Few nights in Marathon TX (staying at Gage Hotel)
3 days to explore Big Bend NP.
Then we have a week free before we go home and my wife loves the beach and salt water, so that's why we want to stay at the beach.
As I'm sure you all agree happy wife, happy life!

[Tobra]

Go to Carlsbad caverns to see the bats come out. It may be too late in the year for them though

Self guided tour of the cave is a few hours and you have to make reservations on line.

I found Galveston not great. Spoiled by California beaches

[Seahawk]

Excellent plan.

I would only make one change: Leaving Tusla head south to the Wichita Mountains near Lawton.

I find the area fascinating

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/wichita-mountains

I would then head west on Rte 62 to Rte 287 to Amarillo. I really have enjoyed that drive and would do it again.

Little longer day but worth it in my opinion.

Have fun!

[thingmon]

Corpus is good or Rockport. They aren’t far from San Antonio. If it’s hot, tubing can be fun. San Marcos is good for that. Enjoy your trip!
Dave

[David]

A river canoe or kayak trip on the Frio or Rio Grande (or better yet Devil's) river would a be nice and even better trip than the beach IMHO. October might be a bit too cold tho unless you're Polar Bears.

[brainz01]

Originally Posted by Swiss Carrera

Thanks everyone who has replied so far.

Full trip plans are thus:

Fly into DFW

Day or two in DFW.

Tulsa OK for a few days (visited before on our Route 66 trip, really liked the place so want to see more of it)

Overnight in Tucumcari NM

Overnight in Roswell NM, next day White Sand NP

Few nights in El Paso (used to visit here when I was a kid when we lived for a while in Chihuahua MX (Father worked for FoMoCo at the time)

Few nights in Marfa TX (staying at Paisano Hotel)

Few nights in Marathon TX (staying at Gage Hotel)

3 days to explore Big Bend NP.

Then we have a week free before we go home and my wife loves the beach and salt water, so that's why we want to stay at the beach.

As I'm sure you all agree happy wife, happy life!

A few suggestions:

Instead of heading south at Tucumcari, consider going to
- Santa Fe (1 day/night)
- old town / church / galleries
- Meow Wolf

- Albuquerque (1-2 days)
- Balloon Fiesta is in October and really unique
- Tram ride up the mountain
- Atomic museum

Another idea if you don't go to Albuquerque/Santa Fe: go see the Texas Grand Canyon (Palo Duro) just south of Amarillo. It's camping only, but you could make a half day trip and still make it to Roswell.

From ABQ go to Roswell or White Sands
- IMO White Sands looks cool, but kinda boring

Carlbad Caverns is a must see. Better than White Sands

Be careful with the weather. October could be stupid hot or snowing in NM and Big Bend. The rest of Texas will likely still be 80F+.

South Padre Island (south most tip of Texas) is not a bad beach. But it's not fancy or new. And you're far away from stuff. But it's a decent beach and generally inexpensive, if no frills.

Consider going from Marfa to Fredericksburg for a night. Nice restaurants and wineries there. Great WW2 museum.

And then go to San Antonio and see the Riverwalk and Alamo. It's worth a day or so.

Go Corpus Christi from there. Has some touristy stuff including aquarium and battleship, and you can do beachy things across bay on Padre Island. The beach here is OK, and may be windy. It's always windy in Corpus Christi.

You could also do Houston/Galveston, but as noted, the water and sand in Galveston are brown and not nice like California or Florida. The Galveston downtown area is decent, but small. The Galveston seawall is generally ghetto and to be avoided, although there are exceptions like Hotel Galvez. Staying southwest of Galveston (Pirates Beach or Jamaica Beach) is nicer than the crowd in Galveston proper, but you're farther away from the restaurants.

Sounds like a fun trip

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[Tobra]

After you see White Sands, you have seen it. Cool, but not that impressive.